Child Support for Step Children

My Ex and I are divorcing and up until 2 days ago it was completly amicable until her friend started putting in her tuppence worth. We were together for 11 years and she has 3 children from a previous relationship. Although she has a court order for maintenance for the children, he has never paid it and she will not inforce it because of his violent nature. He has not bothered to see them in 10 years. Although I have been paying her money each month, sighned over the house and contents in its entirity, she now wants to do a financial settlement. If I refuse, she says she will go to the CSA. Can the CSA enforce an assessment given the above circumstances?

No, they won''t. CSA don''t get involved in stepchildren support. She might be able to get a court order for you to support them, but I suspect she will be advised to go to the CSA for support from their natural father.

Best wishes,
Sadie

The first port of call for child maintenance is the natural father and the CSA has no jurisdiction to assess or collect money from a step parent.

However, when a step parent has raised children as though they were their own family for a considerable time and maintained them the court may make an order for child maintenance when the natural parent doesn''t pay any maintenance say because they have died or can''t be traced.

Thanks for the replies guys. Ironically,I do not have issue with paying maintenance for them. I have suggested 20% of net salary for the 2 reducing to 15% when the eldest finishes her A levels. However, ex wants more. At least I know where I stand now.